The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Ugboaja, has died at the age of 60.

Ugboaja, a veteran trade unionist and lawyer, reportedly died after a protracted illness. Details surrounding his death remained sketchy as of press time.

His death was announced to members of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) currently holding its meeting in Enugu, Enugu state.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was said to have read a letter from Ugboaja’s family to members of the NEC during the meeting, formally informing the labour leadership of his death.

Ugboaja’s trade union journey

Ugboaja was appointed General Secretary of the NLC in August 2019, succeeding Peter Ozo-Eson, and became the fifth General Secretary of the Congress since its establishment in 1978.

Born on May 15, 1966, Ugboaja obtained a law degree from the University of Calabar in 1987. After spending about four years in private legal practice, he joined the trade union movement in 1993.

He began his union career with the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, an affiliate of the NLC.

He rose through the ranks of the union and served as its General Secretary between 2000 and 2005 before moving into civil society activism.

From civil society to NLC leadership

Between 2006 and 2009, Ugboaja served as Coordinator, Advocacy and Mobilisation, at the Alliance for Credible Elections, where he was involved in efforts aimed at strengthening democratic participation and electoral processes.

He joined the NLC Secretariat in 2009 and subsequently rose to become Principal Assistant General Secretary and Head of Industrial Relations and Organising.

In 2019, he emerged through a competitive selection process as the successor to Ozo-Eson.

The NLC National Executive Council ratified his appointment at its meeting in Kano on August 21, 2019.

National political and constitutional roles

Beyond trade union administration, Ugboaja participated in several major national political and constitutional reform initiatives.

He was a delegate to the Political/Constitutional Reform Conference convened by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005.

In 2014, he also participated as a delegate at the Constitution Review Conference convened under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Through these engagements, Ugboaja became one of the prominent labour representatives involved in national conversations on governance, democracy and constitutional reforms.

Role in labour-government negotiations

As General Secretary of the NLC, Ugboaja played a central role in the day-to-day administration of the Congress, overseeing industrial relations, negotiations with government and employers, coordination of affiliate unions and mobilisation of workers.

He was involved in several major labour-government negotiations, including discussions surrounding the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage.

In April 2026, Ugboaja signed an NLC directive calling on workers in states that had yet to fully implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act to participate in street rallies on May Day.

His involvement in such issues reflected his long-standing role in negotiations and advocacy on behalf of Nigerian workers.

Legacy in organised labour

Ugboaja’s death marks the loss of one of the experienced figures in Nigeria’s organised labour movement.

He combined a legal background with more than three decades of experience in trade unionism and civil society activism, rising from private legal practice to union leadership and eventually becoming the chief administrative officer of the NLC.

His death is expected to be mourned across the labour movement, particularly among the NLC’s affiliate unions and workers who worked with him during his years of service.

Further details concerning the circumstances of his death and funeral arrangements are expected to be released by his family and the Nigeria Labour Congress.